Setting goals is hard. Micro-goals make goal setting easier.
Micro-goals are bite-sized pieces of a larger goal, and they help make the process of completing a goal a bit more achievable. Instead of keeping your focus on a big goal that will take some time to complete, break up your goals into smaller pieces and celebrate each piece’s completion.
New to micro-goals? Reach your goals step by step with Bite-Sized Goal Setting!
Imagine this: you’ve set out to accomplish a new goal, and you are FIRED UP. You’ve set your “big goal,” and you’ve broken it down into bite-sized pieces. You’re ready to conquer the world! But then, well, as you know, life happens. Motivation loses steam, procrastination begins to show its nasty little face, or unexpected obstacles throw you off course.
We get it.
Hitting roadblocks with both goals and micro-goals is totally normal. So normal, in fact, that most people I know have struggled to meet their goals, even in micro-goal form. With the right strategies, you can overcome these challenges and get back on track with your large or micro-goals! Let’s tackle some common challenges and how to outsmart them:
1. Motivation
- The Problem: That initial burst of enthusiasm fades, and suddenly those micro-goals seem, well, not so exciting anymore.
- The Fix:
- Connect to Your Reasons: Remind yourself why this goal matters to you. Visualize the positive impact of achieving it.
- Find Your People: Share your goals with a supportive friend, colleague, or mentor who can cheer you on.
- Gamify the Process: Turn your micro-goals into a game with rewards and challenges. Use apps or trackers to visualize your progress and reward your successes. Explore apps like Habitica and EpicWin to help you out!
- Break It Down Further: If a micro-goal feels overwhelming, break it down into even tinier steps. Celebrate those completions, too!
2. Perfectionism
- The Problem: You get so caught up in doing everything “perfectly” that you end up paralyzed, and progress grinds to a halt.
- The Fix: Don’t allow perfect to be the enemy of the good!
- Embrace Imperfection: Remember that micro-goals are about progress, not perfection. Getting it done is better than doing it perfectly!
- Focus on the Process: Shift your attention to the mini steps you’re taking, rather than the end result.
- Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge every step forward, no matter how small.
3. Procrastination
- The Problem: You keep putting off those micro-goal action steps. “Maybe tomorrow,” you tell yourself, again.
- The Fix:
- The “Two-Minute Rule”: If a task takes less than two minutes, do it now!
- Eliminate Distractions: Create a focused work environment by putting your phone away, closing unnecessary tabs, and blocking chunks of uninterrupted time on your schedule.
- The Pomodoro Technique: Work in short, focused bursts with breaks in between.
- Reward Yourself: Plan a small reward for completing a task you’ve been procrastinating on. Notice a pattern with rewards? We all need a hit of dopamine to stay motivated!
4. The Detour
- The Problem: Life throws you a curveball – a sick child, a last-minute deadline, a global pandemic (hopefully not again in the near future!).
- The Fix:
- Be Flexible: Adjust your micro-goals or timelines as needed. Re-evaluate and make changes that are reasonable for you in your current commitment level. You set these goals, and you can be the one to change them.
- Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself when things don’t go as planned.
- Focus on What You Can Control: Instead of dwelling on the setback, focus on the things you can still do to move forward.
Remember: Micro-goals are meant to be manageable and adaptable. Don’t let these common challenges derail your progress. By recognizing the roadblocks and using these strategies, you can navigate your way to success, one micro-goal at a time!
Go get those goals!
About the Author
Betsy Butler (she/her) is a Professional Learning Specialist at Teaching Channel. She holds a B.A. in English, a Master’s in Education, and has been teaching since 1992. Betsy uses her three decades of teaching experience to write and revise our courses while selecting the perfect accompanying texts. Her specialty areas include ELA, special education topics, behavior management, and mental health.
Fun Fact: Betsy’s daily conquest is solving the New York Times crossword puzzle!
